Friday, October 29, 2010

As we head into the holiday season, it's important to remember that the holidays present unique emotional challenges for many people. The experts here at Life Just KeepsGetting Weirder have designed this targeted aptitude test to help citizens better address their emotional state as we head into the first of the season's special celebrations: Halloween.

At the conclusion of this questionnaire, you will be advised as to which holiday coping mechanism will likely work best for you based on your responses. [Please use a No. 2 pencil and fill in the bubbles completely. We really shouldn't have to tell you that, but whatev.]

Halloween Aptitude Test

1. When I first see Halloween items appearing in the stores, I feel:

a. giddyb. enragedc. twitchyd. disoriented

2. At the sight of the massive quantities of candy for sale, I:

a. feel sorry for poor little children who receive store-bought goodies on Halloween night and resolve to perfect my recipe for dairy-free organic pralines in time for trick-or-treating.b. poke my finger into each and every Reese's cup.c. lecture store clerk on the nation's skyrocketing child-obesity rates.d. climb into shopping cart and do loud impersonation of Sammy Davis, Jr. singing "The Candy Man" toward security camera.

3. My favorite Halloween memory:

a. is the time dear Papa hitched Bess, our kindly Clydesdale, to the old red wagon for a jaunty hayride in the crisp, autumn air down to the apple orchard and Mama brought a basket of fresh, warm pumpkin muffins and an earthenware jug of hot, spiced cider, the warmth of which toasted our plump, little fingers through our hand-knit mittens that Grand Mere made for us in spite of being legally blind (but never grumpy). It was grand, simply grand.b. is the year I perfected my flaming poo catapult.c. is when I discovered that I could fake a fever so I could hide under my blankie rather than have to go trick-or-treating in the dark with all those creepy strangers in costumes.d. is gone for good since that last electro-shock treatment.

4. At Halloween I like to take a pumpkin and:

a. well, I usually get a dozen pumpkins for all my projects, but if I only had one then I guess I would toast the seeds as a snack for my bridge group and use some of the meat to make my signature cinnamon pumpkin butter and then decoupage the shell with travel illustrations clipped from my vintage magazine collection and slip a nightlight in there for a cheery glow.b. carve Charles Manson's face into it. Then back over it with my pickup.c. oh, I would never get a pumpkin. They mold and attract gnats, which are known disease carriers.d. you know, just hang out with it.

5. I think the foundation of a great Halloween costume is:

a. creativity!b. lots of blood. Fake, if that's all you have on hand.c. something without wool. I'm allergic to wool.d. MC Hammer pants.

6. What is your Halloween costume this year?

a. Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - yards and yards of silks and velvets and - oh! - such a delicious little hat!b. Leatherface from "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." That's my costume every year.c. Howard Hughes. That way, I can stay in character and still not have to touch anything.d. Something that goes with my MC Hammer pants.

7. When someone rings my doorbell on Halloween, I:

a. present a hostess tray with seasonal offerings, including my handmade clove and nutmeg sachets tied in dainty organza bags.b. leap out of the bushes in my mask and fire up the ol' chainsaw.c. distribute antibacterial hand wipesd. start drooling. Happens with any kind of bell. I don't know why.

8. Do you decorate for Halloween?

a. Oh, yes! Each year I bedeck my cottage to look like a haunted Victorian carriage house, complete with ghostly figures gliding past the windows in gossamer bedclothes, searching in vain for their earthly dominion. I accompany the scene with an original composition that I play on my antique harpsichord.b. Yeah, if you call covering the front of the house in camouflage "decorating."c. Of course not - that would only encourage people.d. Well, sure, I mean I've got the dry ice and strobe lights going year-round, so it's pretty easy to crank it up a notch for Halloween.

9. If you could change one thing about Halloween, what would it be?

a. Have a second Halloween in the spring that's all about being cute rather than scary.b. Allow the use of live ammo.c. If I couldn't get rid of it altogether, I'd at least do the trick-or-treating at lunchtime when it's nice and sunny.d. More caroling. I like a good Halloween carol.

10. The best thing about Halloween is:

a. the sheer joy of sharing my vision of All Hallow's Eve with my cherished neighbors and their adorable offspring.b. scaring the crap out of people. Duh.c. when it's over.d. the egg hunt!

Assessment and Recommendations

If you answered mostly "A":

You need to back it off the pumpkin. Even Martha Stewart finds you annoying.

If you answered mostly "B":

Please stand by while we confer with your parole officer.

If you answered mostly "C":

Have you considered moving to Switzerland?

If you answered mostly "D":

You are uniquely equipped to understand and appreciate all that is Halloween. Enjoy!

I used my caligraphy pen - spicey pumpkin orange ink for that test of yours and I drew little tiny pumpkins inside the answer bubbles. Then I cut teensy tinsie eyes and mouths out of black silk and glued those on with my Elmers Extra Strength Craft Bond. I'm afraid I lost track of the answers, looking more for a nice pattern than giving you the satisfaction of knowing my own true self.

ohohoh...a cross between MC Hammer and Martha Stewart with gobs of fake blood while handing out pumpkin muffins and warm cider! That's exactly what I should do tomorrow! Thanks! That should scare the crap out of the people in this neighborhood, or at least keep them from knocking on my door.

too clevah (as my british MIL would say). I have to admit I only liked halloween b/c I got to wear slutty outfits and get away with it all but now, I like it cuz of the kids. ...teach them well and let them lead the way....

But I believe that MC Hammer pants are not just for Halloween. They are a staple in my regular wardrobe. They're incredibly useful just in case I accidentally fall out of a plane or if I have to bust into the "Can't Touch This" dance at a PTA meeting.

I like a fun quiz...no test anxiety!! My daughter and her boyfriend ended up as "the quarreling couple" for Halloween, and my 12 year old son dressed as an old lady....not sure WHATmake of that!! Really enjoy the blog!

Literally LOLed 6 times!For me, The best thing about Halloween is that all the costumes wind up in Israel in the spring as Purim costumes!(I REALLY want to go as Lady Gaga in her meat dress this year, and I even have the shoes for it & would happily bleach my hair, but we can't get steaks big enough at Sam's Club out here in rural WV...)

Love your blog its so Funny! Tried to send you an email but the gadget did not respond. Not sure if it is ok to send you my link here or not-but thought you may be interested in a Aussie Naive artist's blog (mostly funny stories that inspires the art)Here is a link 51. “WHEN LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE mmm.... and maybe a little bit of snake! New blog today 23.10.10 http://www.mariejonssonharrison.com.au/new/?p=1279 Hope it amuses you. Love Marie xx

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Anna Lefler is an award-winning writer and humorist and the author of THE CHICKTIONARY: FROM A-LINE TO Z-SNAP, THE WORDS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW (Adams Media, November 2011). Her work has appeared online at Salon.com, McSweeney's, TheBigJewel, MyPheme, FunnyNotSlutty and HumorPress. Anna's essays on modern motherhood have been nationally syndicated and her fiction has been presented onstage by WordTheatre Los Angeles. She has performed standup comedy in Los Angeles clubs including the Hollywood Improv, the Comedy Store, Room 5 Lounge and M Bar. Anna can also be found at www.annalefler.com, where she is trying to stop referring to herself in third person.